Paper-bag machine.



No. 847,958. PATENTED MAR. 19, 1907.

,W. A. LORENZ.

- PAPER BAG MACHINE;

APPLICATION FILED DEO.10, 1900.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Inventor:

W'itnes ses;

"(it umems PEIERS cu, wnsnmcrou. o. c.

PATENTED MAR. 19, 1907.

No. 847 ,958f

- W. AQIJOREBIZ. PAPER BAG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.10,1900.

5 sums-SHEET 2.

V Vilfnesses: I w.

1'55 NORRIS PETERS cm,

WASRINdTON. 9. c

PATENTED MAR. 19, 1907.

.W. A.- LORENZ.

PAPERBAG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 111:0. 10. 1900.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No. 847,958. PATENTED MAR. 19, 1907.

W. A. LORENZ.

PAPER BAG MACHINE. APPLIOATIOK um mm. 10, 1900;

5 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

Lt/tin eases Inven LL07"! cwm.

Tun-norms FLTre: mm. wnshmcrou. u. c.

WILLIAM A. LORENZ, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO UNION PAPER BAG MACHINE COMPANY,

OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,

A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PAPER-BAG MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 19, 1907.

Application filed December 10, 1900. Serial No. 39,294.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it knownthat I, WILLIAM A. LoRENz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Bag Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates. to paper-bag machines, and more especially to that class thereof wherein square-bottomed paper bags are formed from bellows-sided or tucked tubing.

The invention comprises what is technically known as the diamondfolding section of a paper-bag machine receiving the bellowssided blanks from any suitable blank-forming mechanism, folding the well-known diamond folds therein, and passing the diamondfolded blank on to any preferred mechanism for performing the subsequent operation of pasting and cross-folding the end flap of the diamond.

The object of the invention is to provide improved diamond-forming mechanism operating in conjunction with a reciprocating blank-support or blank-carrier, which forms a folding-bed upon which the blank rests during the folding operation, whereby the diamond-forming operations are performed to greater advantage than has heretofore been possible with a reciprocating blank-support.

Among the features of the present inven tion which contribute to this object may be mentioned the elimination from the recipro cating folding-bed of many of the instrumentalities heretofore employed for the folding operation and the providing of improved devices for that operation mounted and actuated in practical independence of the reciprocating bed, but ooacting therewith to turn back the other ply of the blank to form the diamond-folds.

A. further feature of the invention resides in the arrangement whereby the succeeding blanks are received by the blank-support while the blank-support is approximately stationary at or near the rearward end of its reciprocating stroke, extraneously moving instrumentalities being employed for opening and closing the holders or grippers employed for seizing the blank.

My present invention also includes the combination, with a reciprocating blank.-

support, of oscillating carrier-arms and comachine as a whole to be increased without increasing the rapidity of the diamond-folding operation.

A further feature of the present invention is the arrangement of the said devices whereby the coactive diamond-folding devices are moved during the diamond-forming operation in a path which separates the side plies of the blank a substantial distance during the time that the inside triangular folds are being defined and whereby they are defined at an early stage in the movement of turning back the upper ply of the blank.

My invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters denote similar parts, and in which Figure 1 is a front view of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a verticalsection taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top view. Fig. 4 is a fractional section taken online 4 4, Fig. 1. Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive, illustrate the manner of forming the diamond fold, Fig. 5 showing the blank-folding member and the blank-carrier in the position which they assume when the inside triangular folds have been substantially developed and the socalled box has been made. view of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 illustrates the parts in position after the diamond has been substantially completed. Fig. 8 is a top view of Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 shows a central transverse Fig. 6 isa top.

an oscillatory path section of the blank-carrier at the endof its stroke, showing the diamond holder and its operating mechanism, the former open or released position. Fig. 10 is a plan view of a portion of Fig. 3, showing the defining-plate and its carryin -arms, together with portions of its operating mechanism, a portion of this view being made in section ICC being in upon a line drawn through the spindle 60 and the trunnion 47 in Fig. 2. Fig. 11 shows a portion of Fig. 10, the defining-plate being turned over or reversed from the position of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 shows an end view of Fig. 11 looking in the direction from the lower side of Fig. 11.

In the drawings, designates the bedplate, to which are secured a pair of upright side frames 11 and 12, in which the several parts for operating the various devices are supported. Suitable means are provided for feeding blanks or bellows-sided tubing into the machine, such means consisting in the present instance of suitable feed-rollers 13 14,mounted on shafts 15 16, respectively,

the latter being journaled in boXes 17, movably held in the side frames and acted upon by suitable springs. (Not shown.) The feed-rollers are caused to cooperate with each other by means of gears 18 and 19, mounted on said shafts, and may be driven by a gear 20, mounted on the lower roll-shaft 15 and obtaining motion from a similar gear 21, mounted upon the shaft 22, which constitutes the main shaft of the machine and to which movement may be imparted from any ordinary source. From the feed-rollers the blank or tube is conducted to a carrier adapted to serve as a support for the blank during the bottom or diamond forming operation. This carrier is in the present instance of the reciprocatory type and consists, substantially, of abed, such as 23, mounted for sliding movement on guides 2%, formed on the side plates 25, supported by standards 26, which are secured to the bed-plate 1.0, above mentioned. Mounted for cooperation with the blank-carrier and preferably carried thereby are tuck-holders and a front diamond holder, whereby the blank is engaged and held on the carrier while the diamond is being formed. The tuck-holders for engaging the lower ply of the tube and for holding the same on the carrier are designated in the drawings by 27 and are jcurnaled at 28 in brackets 29, secured to the sides of the carrier. The spindles 28 carry spiral gears 30, (see Fig. 4,) which are in engagement with racks 31, mounted for reciprocation in the brackets 29, above mentioned, and are preferably provided with downwardly-proiecting lips 31 to be engaged near the blank-receiving end of the stroke of the blank-carrier by suitable stops 82, which serve to close the tuck-holders, so as to hold the blank, while stops 32 may be employed for opening said holders in order to release the blank when the carrier arrives near the end of its forward stroke.

The gears 30 are provided with. spiral teeth which mesh into angular teeth upon the racks 31, which are shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 4. This construction enables the racks 31 to hold the tuck-holders 27 in whatever position they may be swung by the movement of the racks. .lf preferred, frietional or other springs may be employed to hold the racks in position in a similar manner in which the front diamond-holder 33 is held by the frictional spring 38.

The front diamond holder for engaging or holding the end of the lower ply of the tube or blank is herein shown as a holder 33, pivotally supported at the front end of the bed or carrier and is provided with. teeth in engagement with a rack 34, moyably held on said. bed, (see Fig. 9,) said rack having a downwardly-projecting in g or ear 35 in position to be engaged and shifted by suitable stops to open and close said holder near the blank-discharging and blank-reeeiving ends of the carrier-stroke, respectively. The stop for opening the holder is designated herein by 36 and is adapted to arrest the forward movement of the rack with the blank-earrier during the latter portion of the forward stroke thereof, while a stop, such as 37, may be employed for shifting said rack 34 so as to close the holder 33 and to cause the s me to engage the front end of the lower ply of the tube or blank at the proper time, a spring 2-38 being employed for friction ally retaining said racks and consequently the holder 33, in open or closed position.

The blank-carrier, which is of the reciprocatory type, may receive proper movement from a cam 39, mounted upon the shaft 22 and serving to impart an oscillatory movement to a lever 40, pivoted in a bracket 41, which is secured to the bed-plate It), said lever being connected at its other end by a link 42 with an car 43, projecting from the under side of the blank-carrier.

The blank-folding member, which is eon nected for eooperation with. the -arrier, is herein illustrated as a plate one edge of which serves as a bottom-defining edge and which is mounted for oscillation and reciprocation relative to and also with the carrier. Means are provided whereby the defining edge of the blank-folding member may be maintained at a distance from the carrier so that as the carrier and blank-foldingmember coact in opening out the open end of the. bagblank the so-ealled inside triangular folds maybe easily developed by stretching on t the sides of the tucked tube or blank. The blank-folding member or plate is denoted by the numeral 44 and has a defining edge 15, while at its sides it is provided with. brackets 46, having trunnions 4-7, the axes of which are in alinement with each other and remote from the defining edge. The brackets -16 have in the present instanee extensions 18, adapted to receive suitable means for engaging the upper ply of the blank and for holding the same against the plate 44f. These means consist, preferably, of box-holders 4t), pivoted at in the extensions f-S and haying tailpieces 51, whereby said box-holders may be opened for the reception of a blank near the beginningof the forward stroke of said blank-folding member and against the action of a spring, such as 52, which tends to close both box-holders. The tailpieces 51 are in this instance engaged by a device which is independently movable relatively to the blank-carrier or to the blank-folding,

member, this device consisting, substantially, of a pair of arms 53, connected by a sleeve 54, which may be mounted upon a shaft 55, sup ported in the side frames 11 and 12 of the machine. The sleeve 54 isv preferably provided with a rearwardly-extending arm 56, the outer end of which maycarry a roller. 57 in engagement with a cam 58, mounted on the upper feed-roll shaft 16, and whereby a proper rocking movement may be imparted to said sleeve 54, and the box-holders 49 may thus be opened or permitted to close irrespective of any movement on the part of the folding member.

The pivots or trunnions 47 of the folding member are in the present instance supported in a carrier composed of apair of arms59, mounted upon spindles 60, which are journaled in posts 61 and 61, secured to the bedplate 10 of the machine. Both spindles are caused to oscillate in unison as, for instance, by means of pinions 62, mounted thereon and engaged by sectors 63 and 63, the former of which may be j ournaled on a stud 64, held in the side frame 11 of the machine, while the latter, 63,may be pivoted on a stud 64 in the post 61, above mentioned. Both sectors 63 and 63 are operated simultaneously by similar cam-grooves 65, provided in the cams 66 and 67, respectively, both cams being secured to the main shaft 22 of the machine above referred to.

The aXes of the carrier-spindles 60 are dis posed adjacent the blank-supporting surface of the blank-carrier, and the organization of the blank-folding member and its operating mechanism is such that the folding member will make nearly one-half a revolution when traveling from the blank-receiving position to the end of its stroke and. that at the same time and by virtue of this movement said trunnions or pivot-axes 47 will have a movement away from and toward the blank-supporting surface-in other words, that on account of this organization said pivots will have a rise-and-fall movement relative to the blank-carrier, while simultaneously the blank-folding member itself will be oscillated around its trunnions in such a manner that the defining edge will be caused to advance substantially in unison with the blank-carrier and be maintained at a substantial distance therefrom during the diamond-forming operation. The means whereby proper oscillatory movement is imparted to the blank folding member in its carrier consist, preferably, of a pinion 68, mounted upon one of the trunnions 47 and engaged by an internal-gear segment 69, the hub 69 of which is in turn provided with gear-teeth 70 in engagement with a sector 71, which may be journaled on a stud 72, held in the post 61. The sector 71 has an arm 73, which carries at its free end a cam-roller in engagement with a suitable cam-groove provided in the cam 66.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the blankfolding member 44 has an. oscillatory movement in its carrier, while at the same time the carrier itself is oscillated' around its own pivot-axis until the position sh own in Fig. 7 has been reached, when it becomes necessary again to open the boxholde rs 49 and to release the blank, the diamond being then substantially completed.

The box-holders are opened at this point by devices which are movable independently of any movement of the blank-carrier or the folding member and which consist substan tially of fingers 74, pivofally held, as at 75, on the side plates 25 and connected by pitman-rods 76 with the ends of arms 79, united by a sleeve 77, which is mounted on a shaft 78 and to which proper rocking movement may be imparted by an arm 7 9, secured to said sleeve and having a cam-roller 80 in engagement with a suitable cam 81, which is mounted upon the lower feed-roll shaft 15. Interposed between the feed-rollers 13 14 and the carrier 23 is a guide-plate 82,'whereby the blank asit is fed forward by the feedrolls will be guided with its front end between the folding member and the carrier and which may be held in position by a bar 83, secured to the side frames of the machine.

The operation of my improved machine is as follows: Bellows-sided or tucked tubingis introduced into the machine by the feedrolls 13 and 14 and guided by the plate 82 into position between the blank-folding member: 44 and the carrier 23 in such a manner that the tuck-holders 27 and the front diamond-holder 33 may close upon the lower ply of the blank, as shown in Fig. 4, at which time the carrier is at the beginning of its working stroke and the holders have just been caused to engage the blank during the final movement of the carrier to the position shown. At this time the blank-folding member 44 is so positioned in regard to the defining edge 45 and the boX- holders 49 that the blank may be fed into proper place, whereupon the box-holders are permitted to be closed against the blank by the spring 52. The blank carrier or support is now caused to advance, carrying with it the blank, and the arms 59, constituting the carrier for the blank-folding member, will be oscillated, so as to swing the trunnions 47 through an arc concave toward the blanksupport, while at the same time said folding member is oscillated in said arms, so as to cause the defining edge to be maintained at a distance from the blank-support during the greater portion of the forward stroke of the latter. The movement of the defining edge is substantially in unison with the movement of the blank-support throughout the diamond-forming operation, and while the defining edge travels from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 7 the pivotsup port of the blank-folding member will have moved away from and then again toward the blank-carrier, describing in its travel an arc of nearly one hundred and eighty degrees. In this manner more time may be afforded to the operation of forming the diamond, on account of the resultant greater length of travel of the blank-folding member, than is possible when the pivot-support of the blank-folding member has merely a rise-and-fall movement relative to the blank-supporting surface of said carrier and without any advance movement with the same. On account of the organization of the blank-folding memher and its operating mechanism it will be seen that the blank-folding member is practically turned over and about the defining edge as an axis, thus gradually separating the box-holders from the tuck-holders, which actionwill result in opening out the tucked sides of the blank and forming the inside triangular folds, as shown in Fig. 6, which, in connection with Fig. 5, illustrates the tucked tube opened out into the so-called box form. In Figs. 7 and S the blank-folding member is shown in its final position, whereupon the box-holders are released from the blank by the fingers 74 and the tuck-holders and the front diamond-holder are also disen gaged from the blank, as shown in Fig. 9. The diamond being substantially completed, it may be withdrawn from the carrier and brought into contact with other devices (not shown) whereby paste may be supplied to the blank and the latter may be folded to complete the bag.

It is obvious that the construction of many elements incorporated in the machine, as above described, may be varied in many ways without departing from the spirit of the invention and that some of my improvements are applicable to paper-bag machines having a blank-carrier other than the reciprocatory type.

In my copending applications, Serial No. 27,86 l, filed October 23, 1900, Serial No. 32,123, filed October 5, 1.900, and Serial No. 36,177, filed November 12, 1900, I ha e claimed certain novel improvements in bagmachines, which are shown and described, but not claimed in this application. This application, therefore, is to be understood as being subordinate to the said copending applications in respect of the features thus claimed in the said copending applications.

The swinging movement of the axial trunnions 47 of the folding-plate describes an are l of which the straight-line forward-a1id-back movement of the blank-support describes the chord. The distance from the said axis to the defining edge of the folding-plate is made somewhat less than the height of the said chord, so that that defining edge is en abled to swing forward and back clear of the blank-support when the pivotal support of the plate is substantially at the highest point of the said are.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a bag-machine, mechanism for forming diamond folds on bellows-sided blanks, having in combination a blank-support reciprocating in a straight line, means for turning back the upper ply of a bag-blank carried by said support, a carrier device mounted for oscillation and. pivotally supporting the turning-back means, means for oscillating the carrier device to and fro with the blank-sin port as the latter reciprocates, and means for turning the turni1'1gl.)ack means relative to the carrier in a direction opposite to that in which the carrier moves about its center of oscillation.

In a bag-machine, mechanism for forming diamond folds on bellows-sided blanks, having in combination al.)la11ksupport reciprocating in a straight line, a carrier device mounted to oscillate about a 'Iixed axis, means mounted for oscillation upon said device for engaging and. turning back the upper ply of a bag-blank carried by the blanksupport,and means for oscillating said device about its axis to carry the engaging and turning-back means through an arc concave toward bilel)lfl11l -SUP])O1l3.

3. The combination with a blank-summit reciprocating'in a straight line and having tuck-holders, of carrier-arms mounted on opposite sides of the blank-support to oscillate upon a fixed axis, means pivotally supported upon said arms for engaging and turning back the upper ply of a bag-blank carried by the blanksupport, means for oscillating said arms to and fro with the blank-support as the latter reciprocates, and means for oscillating the engaging and turning-back means relative to the carrier-arms with a direction of the angular movement at each instant opposite to that of the movement of the carrierarms about the fixed axis.

4. The combination with a blank-support mounted to reciprocate in a straight line, and having tuck-holders, of a folding member provided with means including a defining edge for engaging and turning back the upper ply of a bag-blank carried by the support, carrierarms mounted for oscillation upon a fixed axis and pivotally supporting said folding member, means for oscillating said arms to rarry the axis of movement of the foldingplate relative to the earrieraums through an are concave toward the blank-support and means for oscillating said folding member relative to the carrier-arms as the latter oscillate.

5. The combination with a-blank-support reciprocating in a straight line and having tuck-holders, of carrier-arms mounted on opposite sides of the blank-support to oscillate about a fixed axis situated approximately in the plane of the blank-supporting surface of the support, means including box-holders mounted for oscillation about an axis relative to said arms for engaging and turning back the upper ply of a bag-blank carried by the support, and means for oscillating said carrier-arms to carry said axis to and fro with the blank-support as the latter reciprocates, and through a path concave toward the blanksupport.

6. The combination, with a blank-support reciprocating in a straight line, of carrierarms mounted on opposite sides of the blanksupport to oscillate upon a fixed axis situated substantially in the plane of the blank-supporting surface of the support, and a folding member mounted upon the arms for oscillation upon an axis located a substantial distance away from the axis of oscillation of the arms, and provided withmeans for engaging and turning back the upper ply of a bag blank carried by the said support. 1

7. The combination, with a blank-support reciprocating in a straight line and provided with tuck-holders, of means for turning back the upper ply of a blank carried by the support including carrier-arms mounted for oscillation upon a fixed axis adjacent to the path of travel of the blank, and a folding member mounted for oscillation upon the carrier-arms upon an axis situated a substantial distance from the axis of oscillation of the arms, and means for oscillating the arms and folding member upon their respective axes in coactive relation to the reciprocating movements of the bed.

8. The combination, with a blank-support reciprocating in a straight line and provided with tuck-holders, of means for turning back the upper ply of a blank carried by the support, including a folding member provided with a defining edge, and means including carrier-arms for pivotally supporting said folding member for oscillation to carry the said defining edge a substantial distance away from the surface of the blank-support during its turning-back operation upon the blank, to separate the upper and lower plies of the blank during the said operation.

9. In a bag-machine, meansfor forming diamond folds on bellows-folded blanks, having in combination a folding-bed mounted for reciprocation in a straight line, and provided with tuck-holders, a folding-back member, provided with a defining edge and box-holders, a carrier device mounted for 1 oscillation upon a fixed axis situated near the plane of the blank and pivotally sup porting the folding member for oscillation upon an axis situated at a substantial distance from the said fixed axis, substantially greater than the distance from the supporting-axis of the folding-plate to its defining edge, to separate the two plies of the blank during the folding-back operation, means for reciprocating the blank-support, and means for oscillating the carrier device and the folding member on their respective axes.

10. The combination, with a blank-support reciprocating in a straight line having tuck-holders; of an oscillatory blank-folding member having box-holders, means for opening and closing said box-holders near the blank-receiving end of the stroke, means for actuating the tuck-holders, a front diamond holder and reciprocatory rack operatively connected therewith, and means for engaging the said actuating-rack near each end of the stroke of the blank-support.

11. The combination, with a reciprocating blank-support having tuck-holders, of an oscillatory blank-folding member having box-holders, means for opening and closing said box-holders near the blank-receiving end of the stroke, means for actuating the tuck-holders, a front diamond holder, a re ciprocatory actuating member connected with the diamond holder, means for engaging the said actuating member near each'end of the stroke of the blank-sup port, and a spring for frictionally retaining said member in position during the movement of the blank-carrier.

1 2. The combination, with a blank-sup ort mounted for reciprocation in a straight inc, and provided wlth tuck-holders, of means for turning back the upper ply of a bag-blank carried by-the support, including a folding member provided with box-holders and a defining edge, carrier-arms supporting the folding member for oscillation upon an axis located a substantial distance from the defining edge, fixed pivotal supports for the carrier-arms situated at the sides of the blanksupport, and means for swinging the carrierarms with their supported folding member forward and back synchronously with the forward-and-back movements of the reciproeating blank-support, to carry the folding member in o erative relation to each blank during the fo ding-back operation, and to return the folding member for operative engagement with the succeeding bag-blank.

13. In a bag-machine, the combination tion in a straight line and provided with tuckholders, of means for folding back the upper ply of succeeding bag-blanks carried by the support including a folding member provided with box-holders and a defining edge, carrier-arms supported at the opposite sides with a blank-support mounted for reciprocaof the bed for oscillation upon a fixed axis, and pivotally supporting the folding member for oscillation upon an axis situated above the supportingsurface of the blank-support, and a substantial distance from the deiining edge, means for reciprocating the blank-support, and means for swinging the carrierarms and the folding member upon their re spective axes to move them forward and back synchronously with the forward-and-back movement of the blank-support, and in operative register with the succeeding bagblanks.

14:. In a bagmachine, the combination of a blanksupport mounted for reciprocation in a straight line, means for turning back the upper plies of successive blanks carried by the support, said means including a foldingplate provided with blankholders and a defining edge, carrier-arms supported at the opposite sides of the blank-support for oscillation upon a fixed axis and pivotally supporting the said folding-plate -for oscillation upon an axis situated a substantial distance from the defining edge of the plate, means for oscillating the carrier-arms to carry the axis of the blank-folding plate through an arc, of which the straightline movement of the blank-support describes a chord, said distance between the defining edge and the pivotal axis of the folding-plate being such that the defining edge of the folding-plate is enabled to swing forward clear of the blanksnpport when the pivotal support of the blank is substantially at the highest point of the said are.

15. In a bag-machine, mechanism for forming diamond folds on bellowsfolded blanks, having in combination a folding-bed reciprocating in a straight line, oscillating carrier-arms, means mounted for oscillation upon the carrier-arms and moved by said arms through an oscillatory path above the reeiprocatory path of the bed, for turning back the upper ply of a blank carried by the support, means for oscillating the said arms, including a toothed gear concentric with. the axis of oscillation of the arms, and means for oscillating the turning-back means upon the said arms, including another toothed gear also concentric with the axis of oscillation of the arms.

16. In a bag-machine, mechanism for forming diamond 'l'olds on bellows-sided blanks, having in combination a folding-bed reciprocating in a straight line, oscillating carrier-arms, means mounted for oscillation on the carrier-arms, and moved by said arms through an oscillatory path above the reciprocatory path of the bed, for turning back the upper ply of a blank carried by the support, means "for oscillating the arms including a toothed gear mounted concentric with the axis of oscillation of the arms, means for oscillating the said ply-turning means including a toothed gear concentric with the axis of oscillation. of the said ply-turning means, and a driving-gear therefor mounted concentrically with the axis of oscillation of the carrier-arms.

WILLIAM A. LORENZ.

itnesses Dims. F. SOHMELZ, JAS. DANGERFIELD 

